More than l00 delegates from around the world are attending a three-day workshop in Nadi, from today through June 8, to explore the development of deep-sea mineral mining in the Pacific.

In opening the Deep Sea Minerals Project, Dr. Russell Howorth, Director, SOPAC a division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, said that the objective of the workshop is to expand the economic resource base of Pacific ACP States.

“But its specific purpose,” he added, “is to strengthen the system of governance and capacity of Pacific ACP States in the sustainable management of their potential deep-sea mineral resources.”

He said that this could be achieved “through the development and implementation of sound and regionally integrated legal, fiscal and environmental frameworks, improved human and technical capacity and effective monitoring systems.”

The Deep Sea Mineral Project, administered by SPC/SOPAC Division, and funded by the EU, is the vehicle that is mandated to develop the legislative and regulatory framework over a four-year period.

Dr. Howorth said that he hoped that the deliberations over the next three-days would lead to agreement that the correct way forward would be strategic, one built on inclusiveness, interactive dialogue, which would then lead to incremental actions.

“In this way,” he said, “sustainable use of deep sea minerals can proceed for all.”

CAPTION: Russell Howorth, Director SPC/SOPAC Division